Harriers L.T.O.

(Article adapted from the Harriers Online site. Report by Phil Lench with thanks)

Date: Wednesday 12th November 2014

Venue: Aggborough Stadium

Attendance: 1577 Away fans: 100

Goals for Aldershot: Williams 48 (pen) Molesley 73

Report by Phil Lench

Jared Hodgkiss off as Harriers whimper to defeat

The theory that having an extended break of eleven days between the Torquay win a few weeks back, and Aldershot playing in their Cup Final against Portsmouth on Sunday, would see this game go in our favour was blown out of the water tonight when a controlled performance from the Shots saw them win the game 2-0 although they did get a bit of help on the way when we had Jared Hodgkiss sent off for a foul in the penalty area.

The ensuing penalty, taken by their leading scorer Brett Williams, came early in the second half and following that we crumbled completely. We hadn’t been at the races in the first half either with just a fifteen minute spell towards the end of the first forty five that was to give us false hope. I cannot recall a single shot that actually tested their keeper. We started the game with Josh Gowling returning from injury meaning that Jamie Grimes returned to the bench.

No Kyle Store because he has just undergone an operation for a hernia and no Michael Gash either. Not on the bench and not in the ground. Very worrying! The usual scrappy start to the game followed the referees whistle to commence the game. Both sides were having problems controlling the ball on the windless night and a damp pitch but Aldershot were the first to start to get used to the conditions and began to dictate the game while we chased shadows.

Dan Holman had the first chance of the evening with a shot that Danny Lewis just about tipped over the bar then Chey Dunkley blocked an effort from the former Forest Green midfielder Keiron Forbes. We didn’t show anything until Marvin Johnson forced a corner with a shot that got deflected. And that was basically that for the first forty five minutes.

Half Time: 0 – 0

The fans braving the cold were hoping for an early winter warmer after the break with the Harriers traditional better second half showing. How wrong could we be although no one was expecting what happened within two minutes of the re-start. Andre McCollin had made a dash for goal and seemed to take our defence by surprise.

Jared Hodgkiss made a desperate attempt to win the ball but only succeeded in bring the Shots man down. A stunned home end didn’t know what to say and stood in silence as it all unfolded in front of them and then watched Williams dispatch the penalty with a total lack of interest. Have Gary Whilds tactics numbed the fans that much already?

We forfeited Ahmed Obeng out wide for Jake Green to take the place of Hodgkiss in defence and young Green will probably now be facing his former club, Bristol Rovers, on Saturday. For the first ten minutes following the dismissal we managed to cope with the difference in numbers but slowly Aldershot began to re-take control of the game while we resorted to humping the ball forward and hanging around looking useless.

Chey Dunkley had a chance to score for us and then Williams sent one ballooning over the stand for his side but it was all over in the seventy third minute when too much backing off from defenders gave Mark Molesley the freedom of Aggborough to drift into the area and place his shot beyond the reach of the slow to react Danny Lewis. More subs were made, too late, but Callum Gittings wasn’t one of them.

Aldershot tried out different striker combinations by giving the subs a run out and the crowd left early. Later on this evening in his post match interview Gary Whild told Millerman that Michael Gash would be leaving before the Bristol Rovers game. My hearing must be getting bad. I’m sure he should have said it would be Craig Reid leaving. At least Gashie shows an interest in the game and all for the same money.

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